Gemeinde / Gemeindeverwaltung letter explained in English

Town or village administration. Your town or village. It sends bills for waste, water or the dog tax, and handles many local matters.

Letters you may get

• Gebührenrechnung — a bill for waste, water or sewage
• Hundesteuer — the yearly dog tax
• Mitteilung — information from the town

What to do

• Many towns sell special bags or stickers for rubbish. Using normal bags can lead to a fine.
• Find the deadline. Look for “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innert”.
• Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
• If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“Einsprache”, “Rechtsvorschlag”, “Rekurs”, “Beschwerde”). See the template.

Questions

What is the Gemeinde / Gemeindeverwaltung?

Town or village administration. Your town or village. It sends bills for waste, water or the dog tax, and handles many local matters.

How long do I have to answer a letter from the Gemeinde / Gemeindeverwaltung?

It depends on the letter. Look for words like “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innert” — they mark the deadline. In Switzerland, a legal deadline starts the day after you receive the letter. A registered letter you don’t collect usually counts as delivered on the 7th day after the collection notice (Abholungseinladung). To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“Einsprache”, “Rechtsvorschlag”, “Rekurs”, “Beschwerde”).

Can I read a Gemeinde / Gemeindeverwaltung letter in English?

Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in German. Your letter never leaves your device.

Other offices in Switzerland

Kantonales Steueramt / Steuerverwaltung · Gemeindesteueramt · RAV (Regionales Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum) · Arbeitslosenkasse · Migrationsamt · Einwohnerkontrolle / Einwohneramt · Krankenkasse · Serafe AG